18. Fury
Chapter 18
Fury
“I don’t think Diesel took that well…”
I look up at Ellie, almost guiltily, because I forgot she was there. I’ve been alone on the road for so long that discussing all this bullshit with Diesel somehow made me feel isolated all over again.
“That’s an understatement, Ice.”
“He should tell Devil,” she says frowning, her blue eyes reflective as she thinks through the conversation I just had. It’s strange, but I know immediately that’s what she’s doing. Then again, Ellie always took her time, weighed every alternative. Maybe that’s why she never wavered from her opinion or decisions. It’s one thing I’ve always loved and hated about her. Loved, because it showed what a beautiful, smart woman she was. But, I hated it because I knew that she went through the exact same process when she left me. That meant she knew the consequences and pain, but was still set on leaving me. That shit fucking crushes a man.
“Maybe,” I admit, still not comfortable with keeping it from Devil.
“No maybe about it. Wolf almost killed him, he tortured his wife and came close to destroying his life. It should be him dealing with Wolf, not you.”
“If this is some kind of bullshit to get me not to kill this motherfucker, Ellie, you can forget it. I get the chance and Wolf is gone.”
“Do you see this look on my face, Liam?”
“The pissed off one that makes me wonder if I should hide my fucking balls?”
“That’s the one,” she says, way too sweetly. “You make it sound like I’m totally against your way of life and the club in general. It was never that.”
“You’re against the things I do for the club, Ice. You can’t deny that.”
She lets out a big sigh and flops down into my lap. She curls so her head rests against my chest. I hold her close, tucking her head under my chin and breathing in her scent. I’m frustrated as hell. I hate that Wolf might be anywhere near Ellie. I should have never let her go to the church with me. But, right now she’s in my arms and I’ve ached for her for so long that I just try to concentrate on that and let some of the tension out of my body.
“Your life scares me, Liam. I can’t deny that. I also know that there are things that need to be handled, because your world is different. You’ve told me about what happened with Devil and I may not like it, but I can see the necessity of it. Because if Wolf is still searching for Torrent’s sister a year later, he’s not going to just let it go. Plus, there’s no way to prove he’s done anything illegal. It will be his word against Devil’s, or other members of the club. I’m not so stupid that I don’t remember how the law treated the club in general. So, I get it.”
“Why do I hear a but in there, Ice?”
“Because you’re smart?” she jokes, kissing my neck.
“Let me have it, Ellie.”
“If you guys keep this from Devil, after the hell that Wolf put him through, he won’t forgive you.”
“He’s still having health issues for all of the shit he went through, Ice. Damn it all to hell, he has a new son and a wife he adores. He needs to enjoy life, not let the past rear up to fuck with his head again.”
“So, what’s the plan? Kill him and give his corpse to Devil as a christening present for Logan, Jr.?”
“Devil would appreciate the gift,” I defend, grinning because it feels good talking with Ellie again about life. Hell, it feels good just having her in my arms again.
“No, he wouldn’t. What if the roles were reversed, Liam? Would you appreciate it, or would you feel cheated?”
“Ice,” I growl under my breath. There goes that mind of hers again. Sharp as a fucking tack. She’s absolutely right.
“Hah! There it is!” she cries, pulling away from me to look at my face.
“What are you talking about, now?” I mutter, loving that her lips have spread into a smile that reaches her eyes.
“That tone you get when I’m right, but you don’t want to admit it.”
“And there’s my old lady, the ball buster,” I grumble, good-naturedly.
“So, this woman said that Wolf came asking about this girl Rayne. How do you know he won’t just give up? There’s a chance he doesn’t know this is his daughter, right?”
“Maybe, but if he knows enough to ask for her by name, then chances are he knows it’s his daughter. At the very least, he knows that she is Torrent’s sister and he can use her.”
“You don’t think he’ll give up and just drop out of sight?”
“No. Men like Wolf are only happy when they have power. He wants the power to torture Torrent again. He won’t give up.”
“Torrent? You don’t think it’s Devil he wants to torture?”
“No. He hates Devil, but for him the best part of hurting Devil was what it would do to Torrent. He wants his power over her. Maybe he’s transferred his obsession with her mother to Torrent, I don’t know. I don’t want to find out.”
“Is there a chance he’ll transfer it to Rayne, Torrent’s sister?”
“You’re asking me to figure out a crazy man’s thought process, Ice. Who knows? But, I do think there’s a good chance.”
“What happens next?”
“I spend my days camped out at the church, watching for Wolf to show up again.”
“That’s the big plan?”
“You got a better one?”
“Not really, but that sounds boring as watching mud dry.”
“Have you watched mud dry?”
“Nope, it’d be boring, that’s my point.”
“You’re goofy as hell, Ellie, but damn if I don’t like it.”
“Whatever. You still shouldn’t kill Wolf when you get your hands on him.”
“What would you suggest I do with him, then?” I ask, watching her closely.
“Hold him hostage,” she says and I have to admit, she shocks the hell out of me with that answer.
“Hold him hostage?” I laugh.
“Yep,” she says, shaking her head firmly once, as if to back up her words.
“Ice, who in the fuck am I going to hold him hostage for? No one is going to pay to save this sorry piece of shit.”
“Oh my God, Liam! I don’t remember you being so dense when we were together. I’m saying that you should capture him, put a big red bow on him, then give him to Devil as a Christmas present.”
“I can’t… A Christmas present ?”
“Yes, a very much alive one.”
“Ellie—”
“That’s one gift that I know Devil will love.”
“You get that if I do that, Devil’s just going to kill him, Ice? You won’t be saving his life.”
“Gee, you think? I didn’t say he didn’t need to die. I just think that if he does, it should be Devil’s right to do the deed.”
“You’re sounding awful blood-thirsty for a woman who ended our marriage because I left to kill someone, Ice,” I mumble, confused as hell, admitting to myself that she’s right about what I should do with Wolf. Diesel means well, but in this… he’s wrong.
“You weren’t going to just kill anyone, Liam. You were going to end the life of Ryan’s mother. That’s a completely different situation.”
“She still needed to die, Ice.”
“I can’t agree with you on that.”
“Remind me to tell you what that bitch did to Ryan and Rory someday soon, Ice.”
“You can, but it won’t change my opinion. She might have been crap, but she was still Ryan’s mother. She deserved the chance to pull her life together and be a good Mom to her son. The court would have given Diesel custody…”
“Diesel had custody, Ice. But someone that’s evil clean through is nothing but a starved animal, searching for something to fill their emptiness. They don’t pay attention to rules and laws. You’re dreaming if you think they do.”
“I don’t think it will ever happen, but what if I fell victim to addiction, Liam? Would you end me to protect our child?”
“That would never happen, Ice, and you know it. You’re too strong to let addiction rule your world.”
“Addiction can happen to anyone. Play devil’s advocate for a minute. Tell me what you would do.”
“You really want to do this shit right now?” I ask her, annoyed at her line of questioning. It’s stupid. I really don’t want to waste my time on this shit. I’d rather spend it enjoying her.
“I want to know. What would you do?”
“Fine, I’d lock your ass in rehab until you got clean. If you refused to go, I’d lock you in the basement and fight your withdrawals with you. Either way, I’d get you back, Ice. It’s a moot point, however, because you’re not addicted to anything but my dick. Now, let’s move on.”
“You mean that, don’t you? You’d stay by my side, even with that between us.”
“Ellie, I told you nothing can separate us, but you.”
“I’ve been so stupid…”
“Ellie…”
“What you do, the things you’re called on to do, Liam…they still scare the crap out of me.”
“Ellie—”
“ But, I’ve been without you all this time and I’ve been miserable. I didn’t even know how miserable until you showed up and I was around you again.”
“Ellie—”
“I was wrong, Liam. I should have waited and talked with you. I should have given us a chance to work through my fears and I didn’t…”
“Does this mean you’re coming back to me, Ellie?” I ask her, my heart squeezing tightly in my chest. I need her to say yes. I’m not letting her get away from me again, but it sure as hell would make things a lot easier if she admits she belongs with me sooner rather than later.
“There are still things we need to work through. Can we take time to do that? You’ll be here in Arizona anyway, right? Can you give that to me, Liam?”
I hold the side of her face, bending down until our noses are touching. I close my eyes and calm my thoughts.
“I’m here for as long as it takes to prove to you that you belong home in Tennessee with me.”
“Liam?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I’m going to kiss you now. I’m not giving you a choice, more of a heads up,” she murmurs, and I laugh.
In the end, we meet each other for the kiss.